Christmas Eve wins battle of the big nights out

  Over 73% of Irish people will visit the pub this Christmas, with the majority voting Christmas Eve as their favourite ‘night out’ over the festive period, according to an online poll conducted by the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI). The poll of over 6,000 Irish Twitter users reveals Christmas Eve, with 45% of the […]

Top 5 food trends of 2018

As pubs and restaurants gear up for another busy year in the food market, what new ingredients or stand out trends can you expect to see in 2018? Food trends expert at Musgrave MarketPlace, Dr Deirdre Moriarty has put together a list of the five key trends and ingredients we can expect to see coming in […]

VFI member recognised for transport service

VFI member, Thomas Treacy from Treacy’s Bar & Restaurant, Portlaoise has received an award and special recognition from the Road Safety Authority for his transport service. Treacy’s Bar & Restaurant, which is located approximately 5km from Portlaoise, is in an area with no public transport. Publican Thomas Treacy told TheJournal.ie that they’ve always been focused on making sure […]

Publicans need taste for five a day as they battle Netflix and gym

Business consultant Alan O’Neill writes a weekly column about making the most of your business for The Sunday Independent. In this week’s column he focuses on the challenges faced by rural pubs and highlights Irish Pun Awards winner, The Porter House, Castlebridge, Wexford as an example of a pub doing things right. The feature is […]

Self-employed publicans now entitled to sick pay

For the first time ever the self-employed including publicans are now entitled to long-term sick pay. From the 1st of December nearly 326,000 self-employed people are entitled to long-term sick pay. The invalidity pension, paid at a weekly rate of €198.50, with possible increases for an adult dependent and child dependents, is a payment for people […]

Cellar safety programme will protect staff

Cellar safety in pubs is being tackled ahead of Christmas trade with help of the Licensed Premises/Cellar Safety campaign.   The Irish Brewers Association and the Health & Safety Authority have co-launched a programme designed for Publicans and Bar Managers to enhance basic safety practices in cellars, cold rooms and across all areas of bars, restaurants, […]

5 Pub Design Tips To Help Boost Business

Fionuala Lennon of The Pub Design Company offers five successful design tips that she says will attract more customers and help boost your business.  With over 25 years in the Pub Design business, Fionuala and her team have designed over 100 venues many of them hugely successful and they are still going strong. They have […]

Pub Inspections… Here’s what you need to know!

What should you expect from a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Inspection? If prepared a Workplace Relations Commissioned inspection need not be a difficult task for an employer. Specialised HR firm, Aperture Partners Advisory have partnered with the VFI to offer members advice and expertise on employment law. Aperture advises on what to expect when an inspector […]

Domestic pets now allowed in pubs

Domestic pets will be allowed to enter pubs as food hygiene regulations dating back to 1950’s which prohibited pet owners from bringing their dogs and cats inside restaurants, cafés and pubs has now been repealed. Patrons will now be allowed to bring domestic animals into the pub once permission is granted by the food business operator or […]